Clutch arrangement for side delivery rakes



w. A. HARPER ETAL 2,664,759

CLUTCH ARRANGEMENT FOR SIDE DELIVERY RAKES Jan. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed June 29, 1950 WESLEY A. HARPER E. S. MINT a HAROLD ORELUPATTORNEYS Jan. 5, 1954 w. A. HARPER ET AL ,7

CLUTCH ARRANGEMENT FOR SIDE DELIVERY RAKES Filed June 29, 1950 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WESLEY A HARPER E. S M INTO N BY HAROLD ORELUP4mm 4 TWW ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECLUTCH ARRANGEMENT FOR SIDE DELIVERY RAKES Wesley A. Harper, Eugene S.Minton, and Harold Orelup, Bellevue, Ohio, assignors to National FarmMachinery Cooperative, Inc., Bellevue, Ohio, a corporation of OhioApplication June 29, 1950, Serial N 0. 171,091

3 Claims.

This invention relates to side delivery rakes and the like, andparticularly to a clutch arrangement for driving the reel of a sidedelivery rake.

A side delivery hay rake such as this invention relates to includes areel and a reel frame which are supported diagonally within the mainrake frame while the rake is drawn across a held. The hay is rolled uptoward the front of the reel frame by rotation of the reel and isdeposited in a winclrow at the trailing end of the reel frame. It willbe evident that an arrangement of this type Will impose loads on therake frame which are directed generally diagonally thereto and becauseof which frames were formerly made quite heavy and with a number ofbraces. Bakes according to the prior art were also somewhat cumbersomeand not easy to manipulate in going over a field. A particular point ofweakness in the frames of many such rakes is to be found in the clutchby which the reel is driven by the ground wheels of the rake.

Having the foregoing in mind, the particular object of the instantinvention is to provide a frame for a rake of this nature which is lightbut which at the same time is adequate for sustaining all of the loadsimposed on the rake during operation, including the load of driving thereel of the rake.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a novel end framingconstruction for supporting the reel and the reel frame, and the reeldrive clutch of the ralze on the main rake frame.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a framing constructionfor a side delivery rake wherein the loads imposed by driving thereel ofthe rake are all confined within the rake frame at the leading end ofthe reel frame.

It is also an object to provide a novel clutch mechanism by means ofwhich the reel of the rake can selectively be driven or made idle.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent uponreference to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a side delivery rake constructedaccording to our invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View looking down on the rake at the leading end ofthe reel cage.

Figure 3 is an end view looking at it the same end as Figure 2 shows.

Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a clutch and actuator accordingto this invention.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, a side delivery rakeof the nature with which this invention is concerned comprises a reeland a reel cage. The reel cage within which the reel is rotatablymounted, comprises the arouate stripper rods as at It which aresupported in a frame consisting of the longitudinally extending frontand back channel members l2 by having their ends extending through thechannel members and clamped thereto by nuts threaded on the rods. Thecombination of the channel members I 2 and the stripper rods l0 forms agenerally semi-cylindrical enclosure or cage wtihin which the reel ofthe rake runs when the rake is in operation.

The reel of the rake within the cage comprises the end plates It betweenwhich are mounted shafts having tines l 6 that project outwardly between the stripper rods IE1 as the reel turns within its cage. The reelis mounted eccentrically with the cage and is adapted for being drivenby a shaft I8 having a sprocket 29 over which runs drive chain 22. Theeccentric mounting of the reel causes the tines It? to push the materialbeing raked forwardly of the cage and then to with draw from thematerial. Drive chain 22 passes over idler 24 that is supported onpivoted arm 26, and also passes over a drive sprocket 2-3 that ismounted on a shaft extending into a gear box 28.

The reel is adapted for being raised and lowered by means of a rod 33that connects with a hanger hearing about shaft l8 rearwardiy ofsprocket 23. Rod 38 is connected with arm 32 of an adjustable lever 34that is movable over the notched quadrant 35. Lever 35 also has an arm38 to which one end of spring 35 is anchored, the other end of the saidspring connecting with arm 26 as at 42. This arrangement is such that asthe reel is raised and lowered by movement of lever 3 the position ofthe stationary anchor of spring ii] is adjusted so that the idler itbears against chain 22 with substantially the same thrust at all times.The trailing end of the reel is similarly vertically adjustable in thecage by lever 35 so the reel can be positioned at the proper verticalangle for the most effici nt operation. The hanger bearing previouslyreferred to as being behind sprocket 2B is slidable within a U-shapedfram member it that has the upper end of its two legs connected as bythe bolts 3 with a first bar 48 extending between the front and backframe members l2 of the reel frame. The ends of bar 48 are bent inwardlyand bolted to the channel members l2 as by the bolts 56.

The lower end of U-shaped member as is s cured by a bolt 52 to anotherframe member 5:? bolted to bar 48 at 56 and having its forward end bentup as will be seen at 58 in Figures 1 and 3. The upstanding end part 58of member 54 is connected with another frame member in the form of asecond bar 60 that extends vertically upward and then is bent back to bebolted at 52 to the forward end of bar 43. Member 54 is advantageouslyformed of an angle and is thereby made quite stiff, but, due to thelocation and the stresses imposed on members 48 and 56, it has beenfound satisfactory to form these elements of relatively heavy bar stock.

The lower end of member 69 and the upturned end 58 of member 54 arebolted together and to an angular bracket 64 by bolts tit. Angularbracket 84 is rigidly secured to the front axle assembly which comprisesan axle housing 58 as by means of the welding indicated at it As willbest be seen in Figures 1 and 2 the axle assembly comprises the gear boxhousing 23, previously referred to, integral with the said housing andwithin which are mounted the bevel gears i l and iii. Gear '23 is keyedto a shaft '52 that extends out one wall of the housing and mountssprocket 26.

The front axle assembly also comprises the shaft 78 that extends throughthe axle housing and gear box housing and which mounts on its oppositeends the ground wheels 89 having the hub parts 82. The hub part 82adjacent the gear box housing i2 is mounted on the projecting part 84secured to the said gear box housing and forming an extension orcontinuation of the axle housing 63.

The projection 84 is connected by a diagonally extending brace element86 with an intermediate point on member 54 and in this manner the outerend of the axle assembly is braced against ole-- fleeting under load anddraft can be transmitted to the member 54 when the rake is in operation.

In order to stiffen the end frame structure and the axle assemblyagainst bending relatively in a vertical plane, there may also be theupward and diagonally extending brace element 253 which is connected atits lower end with the projecting portion 8% in substantially the sameplace as the brace element 86, and at its upper end to frame member 65by bolt 39.

As will be seen in Figure 1, the front axle assembly comprises atransverse plate or beam 98' to which is connected the draft member 92and the braces 94, the arrangement being such that a tractor or the likecan be connected to the leading end on draft member 92 for pulling therake over the ground.

Figure 1 will also show that the end of the front axle assembly oppositethe gear box housing 23 has connected therewith, as by means of thebracket plate 9'5, a first elongated structural member 98 extendinggenerally in the direction of travel of the rake. This structuralelement may comprise an angle or a channel and is formed as to extendupwardly from the front axle assembly then backwardly over the top ofthe reel and reel cage and then downwardly at the back of the rake. Atthe rear end of member its there is mounted the caster type ground wheeladapted for swiveling about the axis of its supporting shaft. Brace barsare provided which rigidly hold the reel cage and the rear end ofstructural member 98 in a predetermined position of alignment.

The front channel member 12 of the reel frame is secured to member 98 asby bolts or welding and this provides support for the reel frame on thesaid member.

Somewhat rearwardly along member 98 from its connection with member m8is a second elongated structural element H9 which may also be an angleor channel, and which has its forward end rigidly connected with member98 and its rear end bent downwardly and rearwardly to provide supportfor a second caster type ground wheel I [2 which is also provided with ashaft l il as described in connection with caster wheel Hit. The sleevewithin which the shaft H4 of caster wheel H2 turns is also connectedwith the rear part of the reel frame as by the diagonally extendingbrace bars H6 and H8 which are connected with the said sleeve below itsconnection with the rear end of structural member HB whereby the casterwheel assembly is supported during operation of the rake.

There may advantageously be provided a support bracket as at H9connected with the rear channel member [2 of the reel frame that extendsupwardly and is connected with structural member lit for providingsupport for the rear part of the reel frame.

An additional brace element represented by angle I29 may extend betweenthe caster wheels and, as illustrated may advantageously be pivotallyconnected with arms I22 secured to the upper ends of the caster wheelshafts so that the angle 128 not only supports the caster wheelassemblies, but also insures that the caster wheels pivot in unison.

Returning now to the gear box assembly previously referred to, the gear'54 therein is mounted on shaft 18 for free rotation but comprises aclutch half I30 adapted for engagement with clutch half I32 that issplined or otherwise slidably keyed to shaft 18. An arm 36 rotatablyconnected with clutch half 32 extends therefrom and slidably receivesthe shifting shaft I36. A first spring it bears between arm I34 and thewall of gear box housing '52 and a second spring E4 9 bears between awasher secured to the end of shaft I36 and the other side of arm I34.Reference to Figure 6 will reveal that the shaft I38 extends outwardlythrough one wall of the gear box housing 12 and has mounted thereon alever Hi2 having a cam part IM- at its lower end comprising the inclineI43 engageable with a rib or abutment hi8 stationary on the wall of thegear box housing. By rotating lever 442 through substantially the shaft538 can be reciprocated thereby to move arm H3 in the direction of thelength of shaft 18 and bring clutch half !32 selectively into or out ofengagement with clutch half [3!] on gear "M. It will be evident that thespirngs I38 and M3 provide means whereby the lever I42 can be shiftedits full amount even though the teeth of the clutch halves do notexactly engage. Furthermore, due to the fact that the clutch half I32 isresiliently held against clutch half 53%, the clutch mecha nism has aratchet action so the rake can be backed up when necessary and the reelwill not be driven in the reverse direction.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and,accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within thisinvention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a rake of the type described; a tubular axle structure comprisinga housing having a gear box portion integral therewith adjacent one end,an axle traversing said housing and gear box, a first bevel gear in thegear box on the axle, a second bevel gear in the box meshing with thefirst gear and having a shaft extending through one Wall of the gear boxto mount a sprocket, a one-way clutch member slidable on the axle forselectively connecting the first gear with the axle, a shifter arm onthe clutch member, a rod traversing the arm parallel to the axle, alever fixed on the rod outside the gear box having a cam surfaceengaging the gear box so shift ing of the lever about the axis of therod will reciprocate said rod, a first spring bearing on said arm tourge it toward clutch disengaged position, and a second spring bearingbetween the rod and the arm to urge the arm toward clutch engagedposition.

2. In a rake of the type described; a tubular axle structure comprisinga housing having a gear box portion integral therewith adjacent one end,an axle traversing said housing and gear box, a first bevel gear in thegear box on the axle, a, second bevel gear in the box meshing with thefirst gear and having a shaft extending through one wall of the gear boxto mount a sprocket, a one-way clutch member slidable on the axle forselectively connecting the first gear with the axle, a shifter arm onthe clutch memher, a rod traversing the arm parallel to the axle, alever fixed on the rod outside the gear box having a cam surfaceengaging the gear box so shifting of the lever about the axis of the rodwill reciprocate said rod, a first spring bearing on said arm to urge ittoward clutch disengaged position, and a second spring bearing betweenthe rod and the arm to urge the arm toward clutch engaged position, saidrod comprising a shoulder against which the said bar is normally held bysaid second spring.

3. An arrangement as set forth in claim 2 in which the said clutchmember rotates on said first gear in the reverse direction of rotationof said axle.

WESLEY A. HARPER. EUGENE S. MINTON. HAROLD ORELUP.

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